Chennai, Sep 29 (IANS) Defending champion Marin Cilic, ranked 14 on the ATP circuit, and 2010 Wimbledon finalist Tomas Berdych, ranked 7th, Wednesday confirmed their participation in the Chennai Open 2011 to be held here Jan 3-9 next year.
Cilic from Croatia registered his career high ATP ranking of 9 earlier this year with his best-ever performance at a Grand Slam, reaching the semi-finals of the Australian Open in the same year.
Cilic won Chennai Open 2010 final beating Stanislas Wawrinka.
He won his first Chennai Open title by defeating Somdev Devvarman in the 2009 final.
Berdych from the Czech Republic reached a career high ATP ranking of 7 in Aug.
The Czech was also a semi-finalist at the 2010 French Open and he defeated Roger Federer to reach his first ever Grand Slam final, against World number one Rafael Nadal at the Wimbledon Championships.
‘I am delighted to learn that Cilic and Berdych will be participating in Chennai Open 2011. Cilic has endeared himself to the Chennai crowd, who support him as if he were a local boy,’ said MA Alagappan, president, Tamil Nadu Tennis Association.
Karti P. Chidambaram, chairman, Organising Committee, welcomed the entry of a top class player like Berdych and said: ‘Berdych has captured the hearts of all Indian fans by his memorable win over Federer in Wimbledon. It will be Berdych’s maiden appearance in Chennai Open and the Chennai crowd is in for a feast of high quality tennis from this exceptionally talented player.’
‘We are glad to have Cilic defend his title again at the Chennai Open 2011, giving him the opportunity to become the first player, in the event’s history, to win the singles title in three consecutive years,’ said Ravi Krishnan, Managing Director IMG South Asia and Senior Vice-President, IMG Worldwide.
‘Berdych joins an elite list of top-10 players who have previously graced the courts in Chennai. The fact that Robin Soderling and Berdych chose to make their debuts at the Chennai Open, following their breakthrough season on the professional circuit demonstrates the stature of this tournament,’ Krishnan said.
